Zomba DPP loyalists protest arrest of Mutharika and others

Former ruling Democratic People’s Party (DPP) followers in Zomba on Tuesday staged a protest march against the arrest of their interim president Peter Mutharika and other party gurus.

In what was a peaceful march which started from their district office in the old capital in the afternoon, the protesters chanted songs demanding unconditional release of Mutharika and other leaders.

The procession surged towards the offices of the Zomba District Commissioner where they presented a petition bearing a subject: ‘Petition over politically motivated arrests.’

At the DC’s office, the protesters waited for about 15 minutes before the petition was presented to the human resource officer Violet Mpoya on behalf of the DC who was reported to be out of office.

Zomba DPP supporters took to the streets to protests the arrests

DPP’s district organizing secretary for the youth Maxwell Finiasi presented the petition to Mpoya.

Other notable faces among the protesters included Zomba Central Member of Parliament (MP) Yunus Mussa’s personal assistant Edward Kandidziwa, the party’s regional director for youth Steven Bamusi and George Kanyalika.

Mpoya assured the protesters that their concerns will be directed to responsible authorities as soon as possible.

The supporters, in their petition expressed concern over arrests by government of their prominent opposition leaders.

The petition reads: “We the concerned DPP followers in Zomba (your home district) have the honour to express our heartfelt concern over the arrests of prominent opposition leaders under your regime.

“We are sincerely calling for your Excellency to facilitate immediate release of these political gurus without conditions attached for the betterment of Mother Malawi and Zomba in particular to avoid serious political repercussions that can set the country on fire.”

On Monday, DPP interim leaders Peter Mutharika, Jean Kalirani, Henry Mussa, Patricia Kaliati, Simon Vuwa Kaunda, and other top officials were arrested by Malawi Police Service following a Commission of Inquiry Report which exposes a plot to circumvent constitutional order in succession of then Vice-President Dr Joyce Banda after the death of Dr Bingu wa Mutharika.